Nokomis Chapter

National SocietyDaughters of the American
RevolutionRhinelander, WI

Chapter Name: Nokomis

There are two main reasons for
offering the name NOKOMIS, even though she is only the fictional Indian
grandmother of Hiawatha, the legendary hero of Longfellow's poem of the same
name.

First, Nokomis represents a tribe of Indians who have lived
continuously in what finally became Oneida County, Wisconsin, from an early day
until now, and whose Chippewa descendants still live on the Lac du Flambeau
Indian Reservation of this county.

Secondly, Nokomis reveals a strong and
appealing personality as she rears her orphaned grandson, Hiawatha, and passes
on to him the rich lore and legends of his Indian forefathers.

When
Father Allouez, in 1666, built the first mission on the southern shore of Lake
Superior, he found the Ojibwa of the Algonquin family with their spirit,
Gitchie Gumee, well established there. These tribes were later called Chippewa
and extended their hunting and trapping of fur-bearing animals throughout
the fine virgin timberlands and along the most northern tributaries of the
Wisconsin River. But not until 1836 was Wisconsin territory set off as an
independent territory from the original Northwest Territory. The fur products
were traded to the French voyagers at widely spaced trading posts on the many
waterways of Northern Wisconsin.

Indian trails through the woodlands and
along the water courses became logical sites for these early trading posts and
later pioneer settlements. Thus we understand how the Indians were our earliest
and original citizens and why the entire northern region of Wisconsin has often
been designated as the "land of Hiawatha."

As for Nokomis, her life seems
to parallel the life and work of DAR members in that she sought to instill tribal
patriotism, respect for ancestors, and receptiveness to the moral teachings of
Jesuit priests who also offered education to the young.

Suggested by
Bessie
Meredith

Chapter Officers

Chapter Office

Officer Name

Regent

Joanne L (Wagoner) Spinner

Vice Regent

Mary Bybee

Chaplain

Linda Sauberlich

Recording Secretary

Ruth Thompson

Registrar

Elizabeth Henry

Historian

Beverly Thomas

Librarian

Elizabeth Henry

Treasurer

Teresa Dorn

DAR Facts

Founded: October 11, 1890,
incorporated 1896 by an Act of Congress

Mission: To promote historic
preservation, education, and patriotism

Motto: God, Home, Country

Membership: 168,000 members, 3,000 chapters
in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., International chapters in Australia,
Austria,The Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain,
and the United Kingdom. More than 836,000 women have joined the DAR since it
was founded.

Management: Policy for the Society is
made by the National Board of Management composed of the President General, 11
Executive Officers, 21 Vice Presidents General, and 53 State Regents. The
National Board of Management meets six times a year at DAR Headquarters in
Washington, DC.

Continental Congress: The DAR annual
national meeting is named after the original Continental Congress that governed
the American colonies. DAR Continental Congress attracts over 3,000 members to
Washington, D.C., each summer.

Become a Member

Eligibility for Membership: Any woman
18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can
prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is
eligible.

Ways to learn more about DAR membership:

1) Visit the
DAR web site (www.dar.org) to read about steps to membership and to fill out a
prospective membership form,

2) Talk to local DAR chapter members in
your area,

3)E-mail inquiries to
prospectivemembers@dar.org

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